Evangelizing Catechesis in Sacramental Formation

JC Moreno, MAAssociate Director, Office of Evangelization

And Catechesis, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Confirmation for AdultsTransforming the preparation process from a checklist of

requirements to an encounter with Christ

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• Meet them were theyare

• Catechumenal Model

• Evangelizing Catechesis

• Incarnational Catechesis

• Mystagogy

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Principles

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Resources available at:

•http://bit.ly/2017ND

•Tag-Confirmation for Adults

•Password: holy spirit

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History of Confirmations for Adults in Galveston-Houston

Adult Confirmations first celebrated on Pentecost 1996 as a “one time” Jubilee in preparation for Jubilee Year 2000

Initial preparation guideline called for six sessions – assumption of a well-formed, active & practicing Catholic candidate

Confirmation-A Sacrament in Crisis

‘Over the past decade, 85 percent of young Catholics have stopped practicing their faith within ten years of being confirmed. For generations we have said, “They will come back!” But they have stopped coming back. An increasing number are not coming back to get married or to baptize their children.’Matthew Kelly, Dynamic Catholic

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This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah’s, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people. On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit, a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday, and then, more strikingly, at Pentecost … Those who believed in the apostolic preaching, and were baptized, received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn … Confirmation … in a certain way perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church. (CCC 1287-1288)

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Effects of Confirmation

• It roots us more deeply in the divine filiation which makes us cry, “Abba! Father!”

• It unites us more firmly to Christ;

• It increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us;

• It renders our bond with the Church more perfect;

• It gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith, by word and action, as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ, boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross (CCC 1303)

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IssuesWhat are some of the catechetical problems

typically associated with Confirmation of adults?

10 min. discussion

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Issues

• Variety of formation offerings

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Issues

• Different level of formation and preparation of candidates

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Issues

• Disposition

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Issues

• Placement

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What would an ideal process of formationlook like?

• Discuss

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Outline of ProcessCandidate discerns with Pastor or his

delegate to determine appropriate placement. (Not your everyday interview).

Outline of Process

DiscernmentInterview

RCIA Proximate Immediate

Discernment / INTERVIEW

Any canonical impediments are identified and addressed before entering the process.

Candidate is interviewed in their home parish in sufficient time prior to the start of the Proximate Catechesis classes. This interview discerns readiness in the areas of: Knowledge of Faith Practice of Faith Participation in sacramental life, particularly the

Eucharist Prayer life Discipleship

Questions are based on the content from proximate lessons

Outline of Process

• Candidate participates in a Retreat/Day of Reflection

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Outline of Process

• Service Opportunities

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A closer look

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Every lesson follows same didactical sequence:1. Opening Prayer2. Engage3. Explore4. Explain and Debrief5. Connect6. Extend and Enrich7. Evaluate/Self Reflection8. Closing Prayer

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Results

• Better engagement

• Deeper learning

• Ability to schedule process multiple times a year

• Catechumenal Model built in the lessons

• Proximate prep aims at evangelization

• Focus on adult formation

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Keep in touch

jcmoreno@archgh.org

Facebook.com/jcmoreno77

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